After installing Guest Additions, guest Windows won't start

[pepak]

My host operating system is Windows XP. I have just upgraded to Virtual Box 4.0 and decided to create all my virtual machines from scratch (to get the benefits of new Guest Additions - I was still using version 2.1). I started with guest Windows XP and run into problems immediately: Windows XP install fine. I perform the basic setup tasks (move temp and page files to an immutable disk, install FAR Manager, set up the desktop etc.). Everything runs fine so far, so I reboot, start the guest Windows in Safe Mode and install Guest Additions. Installation goes just fine, I reboot, and during the Windows startup, the virtual computer shuts down (VirtualBox UI says "aborted").

At first I thought that maybe something non-standard interferes with Guest Additions - maybe I removed some critical component using nLite, maybe Guest Additions hate FAR (not that I see any reason for them to do so). So I started removing unnecessary steps. Right now I am down to the unmodified Windows XP SP2 with only the immutable temp disk attached, no software installed at all, no configuration options other than paging file location changed. I even cut down on Guest Additions, removing the DirectX support. And still the Windows shut down on start as soon as I install the Guest Additions! I am running out of ideas of what to try next - about the only things I can do is:

1) Not use the immutable image for temp files.
2) Not change video memory size in the initial setup.

But if these two steps fail again, what else can I do to get the Guest Additions working?

[torentash]

Did you install VirtualBox 4.0 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack?

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

[pepak]

Yes.

[gnSascha]

I have no solution, but the same problem here on Vista 32 on a Linux 64 host. The extension pack is installed.

Everything fine.
Boot to safe mode.
Install Guest Additions (incl. DirectX).
Boot to Login.
Type in credentials.
Vista says "Welcome" and can't get to desktop.
Wait forever or shutdown.

First workaround:
uninstall Guest Additions (in safe mode)
reboot to normal
install (without DirectX).
reboot to normal
everything is fine (except no DirectX)

Up to Virtual Box Version 3.0.12 the DirectX addition caused no problem.

[pepak]

The interesting thing is that I could create the virtual machine on another computer, import it here, and it works even with the Guest Additions. I don't know why, the settings are almost the same (except that the other computer didn't let me check 3D acceleration and 2D video acceleration - maybe that is the reason? Will try.)

[deramin]

I had the same problem. I went into the guest's settings and disabled the direct 3D support. After that the machine worked fine.

[jaymz281]

I noticed that I installed the guest additions then did Windows updates and SP3 installed for XP, my VM did not load to desktop..so I tried the other way around and did the SP3 first and then the guest additions..same thing.. so it looks like for me and maybe for you if you have sp3 then this could be the issue. hopefully there is a fix that I can find for this.

[stickman]

Same problem here. Set up a fresh XP under VBox 3.2.12 and installed the GA which resulted in not booting anymore. Booted to safe mode again and uninstalled GA which resulted in XP running fine again.
Then upgraded to VBox 4.0.2 and again tried to install GA with same result.

Any ideas how to solve this?
I suspect the graphics driver to cause the problem, but am not quite sure on that.

My host ist Win7 x64. openSUSE runs fine with GA installed.

[ninabread]

Same here. My host system is Ubuntu 10.10--but the difference for me is that whenever my Virtual Box 4.0.4 recognizes my iPod in the USB port, it immediately aborts once the little pop-up message arises. What should I do?